[Eliezer]

I don't know what quantum computing is doing on that list, but a mere glance around you will confirm that small increases in intelligence and brainpower, such as that involved between humans and the LCA of humans and chimps, can have rather large effects. Marvin Minsky once said, "Nuclear weapons are not really dangerous because nuclear weapons are not self-replicating." To this I would add that nanotechnology is not really dangerous because nanotechnology is not smarter than you.

[bzbarsky]

Maybe, and maybe not. Worth at least reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invincible if you haven't for a counter-argument.